A day to celebrate town and country
(Bonners Ferry Herald file photo)
Grand display of fireworks during this year’s Fourth of July celebration.
(Photo by: MANDI BATEMAN)
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Horses and happy riders take part in Bonners Ferry’s Fourth of July parade down Main Street.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Children played together at the Boundary County fairgrounds.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The Boundary County Fire Service Honor Guard presenting the flag during the opening ceremony.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN All festivities came to a pause during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The spectators cheered for the parade participants.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Water Balloon toss results in a failed catch during the Family Night put on by the Lion’s Club.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Frozen pops where a favorite treat for the spectators on the hot day.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Boundary County Fairgrounds was filled with groups of people and families.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The water balloon toss was a favorite for the children.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by CHUCK GIARDANO Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by CHUCK GIARDANO Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Opening Ceremony.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Family Night fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN The community gathered at the fairgrounds to picnic and visit.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Kristie Campbell singing the National Anthem.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Bonners Ferry Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Fourth of July parade fun.
Photo by MANDI BATEMAN Seven year old Shelby Roberge built herself a miniature campfire at the fairgrounds while awaiting the fireworks.
BONNERS FERRY — Spring lingered this year. Chilly overcast days. Rain. Barbecues lay dormant; picnic baskets continued to gather dust as the summer solstice slipped in.
All that changed on Independence Day. Summer truly began on the Fourth of July, with a brilliant blue sky and hot summer sun, welcoming the community out to celebrate. And celebrate they did — not with big town, fancy carnival type rides, or outrageous entertainment. They celebrated as a community. A small town united with a sense of patriotic pride.
The celebration began on Main Street with the seventh annual Firefighter Competition and Demonstration, pitting teams of firefighters against one another, delighting the spectators with an exciting water show, earning a trophy and bragging rights for their efforts.
There was a lull downtown until 4:30 p.m., when the quiet streets began to line with eager spectators, each searching out the best spot to watch the parade from, or for their children to gather candy. At the same time, parade participants came together at the Boundary County Fairgrounds, and the parade commenced around 5 p.m.
True to a small town parade, the spectators yelled and waved at all of their friends and family members who took part in the patriotic procession, while children darted from the sidewalk to fill their bags with the candy tossed from the moving vehicles. With the sun heating up, a particular favorite this year was frozen freezer pops. Every organization, every business, and every individual were greeted with cheers and waves.
As the parade drew to a close, people moved the celebration to the Boundary County Fairgrounds where they broke out the picnic baskets and barbecues, or bought dinner and treats from the concession stand. They sat at picnic tables or circles of folding chairs, or on blankets spread across the grass.
“We were at the parade and we were hanging out down at the fairgrounds and it has been great seeing people that I haven’t seen for the last month of two,” said teacher and coach Paul Bonnell, who was there with his family. “It has been a nice time of community interaction.”
The Bonners Ferry Lions Club hosted its annual Family Night, filled with fun games for children, from three-legged races to water balloon tosses.
“I am really pleased with the turnout,” said Don Solum of the Lions Club. “We actually started a little bit early because we had kids chomping at the bit to get started.
“Everybody is having a great time. We probably have more fun than the kids do,” he said with a chuckle as children squealed and laughed as they were drenched by a miscatch of a water balloon.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the packed fairgrounds were bathed in yellow light. Children danced through the grass, playing games and setting bubbles free to catch the glint of the setting sun. People wandered through, stopping to chat leisurely with one another.
“I’m just excited to be around everybody,” said Mountain Springs Pastor Justin Gibbons. “It’s crazy growing up and walking through and knowing almost everybody out here. That is fun and I look forward to it every year.”
Opening ceremonies begin with the Flag Presentation by the Boundary County Fire Service Honor Guard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and an Invocation. The National Anthem was performed by Kristie Campbell, her first time at this event. Across the entire fairgrounds, everyone stopped their festivities and stood, hands on hearts.
“It was kind of exhilarating,” said Campbell when she came off stage. “I was not exactly nervous because we are fairly patriotic in our family, and because God goes before me.”
Night fell slowly. As the light faded, the sprawling crowd shifted toward the fireworks area. Children with glow sticks cavorted around, while others tossed the glowings tubes of light high into the air or entered in duals with one another with glowing swords. The shapes of the children faded into the darkness, and the result resembled a field of fireflies.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the first firework erupted into the sky, seeming to hover above the spectators heads for a moment before exploding into an array of lights and drifting downward. From there, the show escalated, building and dazzling. For the spectators at the fairgrounds, they enjoyed the fireworks in a way that is nearly impossible in a big city. For them, the explosions of lights appeared right over their heads.
As the finale layered lights and patterns over one another, enveloping the area in a plume of smoke, the crowd shouted its admiration, while a child in the dark shouted “America!” after every explosion.
“I thought the show was the best fireworks show we ever had,” said Gary Leonard, fundraiser and organizer of the event. “I had a great time and I hope every else did as well.”
“This is the way the Fourth should be celebrated and recognized,” said Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer.